Optometrists pay range in Kalamazoo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $103,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,720 or more. The middle half of optometrists in Kalamazoo earn between $126,350 and $157,780.
- $104K10th
- $126K25th
- $132KMedian
- $158K75th
- $165K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $133,550 | $11,129 | $64.21 |
| Median | $131,770 | $10,981 | $63.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $126,350 | $10,529 | $60.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $157,780 | $13,148 | $75.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Optometrists pay in Kalamazoo vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Optometrists in Kalamazoo earn 8% less than the Michigan average ($144,610) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($141,550). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $136,570.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo | $133,550 | $131,770 | $103,910 | $164,720 | 70 |
| Michigan | $144,610 | $135,650 | $98,110 | $213,850 | 1,410 |
| United States | $141,550 | $136,570 | $74,870 | $202,180 | 42,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Optometrists salary after taxes in Kalamazoo
On the average salary of $133,550, a single filer in Kalamazoo takes home about $97,118 a year, or $8,093 a month and $3,735 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Kalamazoo a good place for optometrists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Kalamazoo area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 94.8), so the average $133,550 buys what about $140,816 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Kalamazoo ($48,510). A typical home costs $279,752, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Optometrists salary in other Michigan cities
Kalamazoo ranks 6th of 7 Michigan metro areas for this job; Flint pays the most ($151,470).
- Flint$151,470
- Detroit$151,250
- Grand Rapids$149,760
- Ann Arbor$143,260
- Lansing$137,610
- Kalamazoo$133,550
- Traverse City$120,150
Highest-paying cities for optometrists
Roanoke, VA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($219,610).
- Roanoke, VA$219,610
- Wilmington, NC$204,680
- Trenton, NJ$186,160
- Fort Collins, CO$183,350
- Santa Rosa, CA$172,860
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Optometrists salary in Kalamazoo: questions
How much do optometrists make an hour in Kalamazoo?
$64.21 an hour on average, and $63.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level optometrists salary in Kalamazoo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $103,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $126,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the optometrists take-home pay in Kalamazoo?
About $97,118 a year ($8,093 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $133,550.
Do optometrists earn more in Kalamazoo than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,550).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1041; area Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (28020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.95, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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